Electrically driven pump and motor hydraulic system for vehicle window regulation



14, 1951 J. B. PARSONS ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN PUMP AND MOTOR HYDRAULICSYSTEM FOR VEHICLE WINDOW REGULATION Filed March 25, 1946 INVENTOR.

Jail/n .5.Bar4on Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES orrie];

. ELECTRICALLY' DRIVENIPIUMP "AND MOTOR HYDRA'ULIC SYSTEM FORVEHIOLEWIN- DOW REGULATION JohnrB. Parsons, Toledo, Ohio ApplicationMarch' 25,1946; Serial- N0.-656,820

- 7:01aims.

This invention" relates to a hydraulic system. '--and particularly lto avalve and: switch adapted for use in connection with a hydraulicregulator mechanism' having-its fluid pressure generating -means inconnection with the automobile engine starting motor. Hydraulicregulators'of the type described are used for the power'actuation of thefoldingtops of-automobiles and other vehicles of "the convertible type,as--well=asthe power actuation of other-adjustablevehicle'members suchas:

seats, windows; or the like between two positions or adjustment.

"lt-is an-object-of this invention "to provide'a hydraulicsystem with''a pump'connected to the vehiclestarting motor thereby'toeliminate the.expense and space necessitated'by a separate power unit.

"Another object-isto produce anewand improved control device which isadapted selectively to direct pressure =fluids to one portion or"another'of the hydraulic regulator mechanism, or

to'enable the free'fiow of fluid toand from-"its pressure source.

A further objectis toproduceasimpleand efficient control device ofthevtypedescribedwhich is durable and reliable intoperation, and whichis adapted to "be assembled prior to installation in "the hydraulicsystem lending itself tomass production and -in which are embodied-newand 'improved"features-of *construction, arrangement and operationhereinafter described.

*For purposes of illustration," but not of limita- -'t-ion, anembodiment o'f thisinvention is shown in the accompanying drawing; inwhich -Figure-1' is a fragmentary'view of "the valve controlledhydraulically operated linear motor powered by means of pressure fluidfrom a'pump directly connected to'the-vehicle starting motor;

Figure 2 -is I an enlarged longitu'dinal sectional =view o'f 'the"control deviee, =-substantially along the "line*2-2- of' Figure 1;

l Figure 3 is atransVerse sectiOnaI view-substanitially aIOngZthe line-3- 3- of Figure 2, showing the acontrol device? in its neutralon normalposition;

:Figure 4 is a'rtransverse sectional view similar :Figure 5 is atransverse sectional v-iew similar to Figure 3, but with the-"controldeV-ice'in the position tit-adjustment for directing pressure fluid tothe bottom of the cylinderassembly.

'Ihe illustrated embodiment of 1 the 1 invention comprises ca Jhydraulic-regulator mechanism 1H madapted few-ma adjustment: of veh-iclemembers,

7 such: as a ifolding' top o'fa: convertible vehicle,- or-=ia2vehicle=seat. As illustratedfthe hydraulic reguxlator mechanismcomprises a cylinder l Lin-which 'is':slidable -longitudinally a pistonI2 having a :55 piston'rod l 3 adapted to be secured at its-upper -ien"d-t0" the usual collapsible top framework (not shown).

The -c'ylinder" lls is -"pivotally-mounted on a "bracket enablings-winging 1 movement of v the 1-11 o mechanism during operation, thepiston I 2 within l the cylinder bein-g forcd upwardly or downwardlybypressure fluid 'admitted'to the cylinder through approp'riate tubes.A'tube t6 conducts pressure fluid to the -top -of the' cylinder; thereby$115 :to move' 'the piston and' the connected piston rod down-wardly,and a i tube l1-' conducts pressure fluid to the bottom of thecylinder'for moving the piston and pistorr rod in' the' opposite direction. The'tubes -H; and lllead to a control device: C i hereinafter described.

Mountedunder' the hood 'of the vehicle is the usualelectricalengine-startingmotor M energized in response 'to'thedepression- -of-' a' lever or usual foot pedal I 8; which contacts arelay switch i9. Forpurposes ot'economwspace and simplicity ofconstruction; it 3 is- 'exped-ient tomake further use of thestartingmotor'and for that purpose a suitable hydraulic p'ump P is directlyconnected to the 'motorarmature. "'The pump fdraws liquid from atube ZO;which is connected to'the pump 'inl'et -2l and-discharges liquidunderpressure through a tube-12 leading directlytoacontro1 :device C. 'Areturn tube' '23 leads from'the outl'etport of -the control device-andinterposed between the-adjacent ends-oi the tubes 20 and 23 is a liqui'dreservoir R, which insuresthat the tubes will atall times be suppliedadequately with liquid. Since the: construction and operation ofthe-pump P 'formsno part o'f' thepresent inven- 40 -'tion, detailed"descriotionand illustration thereof 1 is not considered necessary.

fisinceathe pump unit? is directly connected to 'the 'sta'rting motor;it is evident that pumps will be operatedzwhenever thestarting motor isoper- Etta: including such: times as operation 'for engine startingpurposes. ItP-is eVidentT-that under the latter circumstancafitheflowofili'quid must necessarily: be handled in a manner not detrimental -tothepar-tspfxthe hydraulic system. For-this "purpose; the control-deviceC is adapted normally to "direct liquid:entering. through the tube522 totheoutlet tube .23 and thusback to' theppump through the itubeeill.

The controladevicei'is mountedumder-the hood 1ctthe ifehicleiandiisioperatedby ineans .otxa pull of screw-threaded openings 33 and 34disposed in v the base 36 respectively receive tubes I6 and I1 leadingto the top and'bottom of the hydraulic cylinder as previously pointedout. A housing 35 is adapted to abut the inner face of the base 30 towhich it is secured by means of screws 36. A sub-' stantially cup-shapedcavity 3'! in the housing 35 is adapted to enclose a rotatable valve 38,which is arranged in face contact with the base 30. The

' face portion of the valve 38 is :providedzwith a pair of spacedarcuate grooves 39 and 40 conforming substantially to .the curvature ofthe valve and disposed between and separated from grooves 39 and 40 in adiametrically disposed' groove 4| having an outwardly bowedcentral'portion.

As illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the valve is adapted tointerconnect the various ports for the direction of the liquid underpressure to one or the other of the previously described outlet portsleading to one end or the other of the hydraulic cylinder or the pump.As illustrated in Figure 3, in the normal intermediate position of thevalve, the inlet port 3| connected to the tube 22 communicates with thecentral groove 4| and the outlet port 32 connected to the tube 23 alsocommunicates with the groove 4|, thereby to direct the incoming liquidinto the latter passage to enable the flow of liquid back to the pump P.Manifestly, operation of the motor M when the valve is in the describednormal position,-merely efiects the circulation of the a liquid to andfrom the pump P. When the valve is rotated to the position illustratedin Figure 4, the inlet port 3| is in communication with the groove" 39thereby to direct liquid through the port 33 which also opens into thegroove 39, and into the top of the hydraulic cylinder I l, thereby todrive the piston l2 in the downward direction. The latent fluid drivenfrom the cylinder portion below the piston is permitted to flow throughthe tube I1 and into the port 34 which is-in communication with thegroove 48, thereby to direct the latent fluid through the communicatingoutlet port 32 which also communicates with the groove 40 and thus tothe pump. Similarly, when the valve 38 is adjusted to the position asillustrated in Figure 5, the inlet port 3| is in communication with theport 34 thereby to direct'liquid through the tube H to the bottom of thehydraulic cylinder driving the piston and piston rod in the upwarddirection, the latent fluid returning through the tube l6, port 33 andgroove 39 to the outlet port 32, thereby to direct the flow of latentfluid to the reservoir and the pump unit.

It is to be understood that the housing 35 and the valve 38 are formedof insulating materials, such as Bakelite or other molded plastics. Aresilient gasket 42 is disposed within an annular groove in the endportion of the cylinder housing 35 facing the base 30 for purposes ofpreventing the leakage of fluids therebetween. The valve member 38 isprovided with bosses 43 'on the outer side thereof, which bosses aresecurely connected to a disc member 44 operatively secured to the endportion of an operating stem 45.

The valve 38 is provided with a by-pass groove 46 associated with thepressure inlet side of the Valve enabling the flow of liquid underpressure to the area on the opposite side of the valve, thereby to forcethe valve to seat against the face of the base 30. A coil spring 41having one end portion seated within a socket 48 formed in the oppositeside of the valve 38, and the other end bearing against the disc 44,normally urges the valve 38 against the base 3|], but not with suchpressure as will interfere with the desired turning movement thereof norafiect the desired liquid seal. I

The housing 35 is formed withan integral boss 49 which provides abearing for the operating stem 45, the inner portion of which isrecessed to receive a packing 56 which provides a seal preventing theleakage of fluid along the stem 45.

Secured to the outer end portion of the stem 45 is a rotatable cover orcap 5| formed of an electrical insulatingmaterial. An ear 52' integralwith an outer edge portion of the cap 5| is provided with an aperture52a for the receipt of a pin 53 having a head 54. The head 54 isapertured to receive the end portion of the rod 24 previously described,enabling the cap to be oscillated to a position one side or the other ofthe intermediate or normal position.

The cap 5| normally is retained in the predetermined intermediateposition by a coil spring 55 which is disposed in an arcuate recessedgroove 56 formed on the inner side of the cap. The ends of the spring 55are adapted to abut against discs 5'! adapted to slide within the groove56. As illustrated in Figure 3, the spaced apart ends of the arcuategroove 56 are connected by another short arcuate groove 58 of narrowercross section into which-fits an arcuate post member 53 which is fixedat this, lower end to the stationary housing 35. It is thus apparentthat the abutment discs 51 are adapted to abut against the shouldersformed between the grooves 58 and 56 of different cross sections,thereby to space apart the end portions ofthe coil spring 55.

When the cap 5| is oscillated in one direction or the other, the post 59remains stationary in relation to the grooves thereby to compress thecoil spring, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, which urges the cap tothe normal intermediate position upon release of the applied externalforces. Arranged against the under side of the cap 5| is a metalconducting ring 60, which is connected to a binding post 6| having alead 62 connected to the relay |9 associated with the motor M. a

An electrical contact post 63, grounded at 65, is adapted to be engagedby an abutment 66 or 61 on the conducting ring when the cap isoscillated to one or the other of thepositions of adjustment. Thus, whenthe cap is turned to one or the other of the latter positions, theelectrical contact elements are engaged enabling the passage ofelectrical current to the relay i9, energizing the starting motor,thereby to pump liquid to the control valve which directs same to oneend or the other of the hydraulic cylinder effecting the movement of theadjustable vehicle member as desired.

It is manifest that I have produced an improved hydraulic system, whichenables the use of the vehicle engine starting motor for'other purposessuch as the operation of the fluid pump for the generation of pressurefluids necessary for the operation:ofta' hydraulic regulator mech-..,anism. .The *improvedssystem provides a very simple and efllcientmeans fortenablingithe rfree movementmf .circulation. -of the.,,pressure fluid which resultsfrom the 'operation of' the motorforiengine starting purposes. The systemzfur- 'Re'ference is "hereby"mafde 'sto my :.copending application Serial No. 620,512, filed October5, 1945, which in many respects is similar to the control device shownand described herein.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction,arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from thespirit of the invention especially. as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an automotive vehicle having an electrical engine starting motorand electrical circuit means closeable for actuating said motor wherebyto start said engine, the improvement which comprises: a cylinder andpiston assembly for imparting movement to a vehicle member between twopositions of adjustment; a pump connected to be driven by said motor;first and second tubes respectively connected at one end to the inletand discharge of the pump; third and fourth tubes respectively connectedat one end to opposite ends of said cylinder; an adjustable controldevice to which the opposite ends of said tubes are connected, saidcontrol device being adjustable between a normal position and abnormalpositions on one side and the other of said normal position; fluidconnection means in said control device establishing, when said controldevice is in said normal position, a bypass connection between saidother ends of said first and second tubes thereby establishing the freeflow of pressure fluid to and from said pump, said fluid connectionmeans selectively directing pressure fluid to one of the other ends ofsaid third and fourth tubes when said control device is correspondinglyadjusted to one or the other of said abnormal positions; and means forclosing said electrical circuit means in response to movement of saidcontrol device to either of said abnormal positions.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1, said electrical circuit meansincluding contact elements engageable for closing said circuit means,said contact elements being arranged to be engaged when said controldevice is adjusted to one of said abnormal positions; and means foradjusting said device to one or the other of said abnormal positions.

3. The combination claimed in claim 1, the means for adjusting saiddevice comprising a manually operable lever.

4. In an automotive vehicle having an electrical engine starting motorand electrical circuit means closeable for actuating said motor wherebyto start said engine, the improvement which comprises: a cylinder andpiston assembly for imparting movement to a vehicle member between twopositions of adjustment; a pump connected to be driven by said motor;fluid conduit :m'eanso'connected:ibetweenesaid :pump and :op- .itpositeends :ofzsaidmylinder man: adjustable'scon- Wtrol a'flevice sinitsaid:con'duit: means, i said rcontrol :idev-ice ibeingradjustableibetweenaa:normalxposiwtion :an :ztwo eabnormal; positionsxsaid :controli.device .i11-'-.?SaidfInQIIna1 rposition" establishing ;a :bypassfor'f'the :freei.flow,ito tandtfrom the pump, Ofifiliida circulated"bysthe ::pump;:said :control fdevice including;meanstthereinyfordirecting the lflow 20f :pressureifluid -to one send .;or 317119 other:of isaid: cylinder zupon adjustment 'Lthereof ':to :1 one :or iith'eothernof said abnormal 1 positions; randim'eans'aforitclosingsaidielectric .circuiti'means Itinrre'sponse .to adjustment .3 of .saiddevice ioiaone of :said.iabnormalrpcsitionsgthereby rto id-rive'zsaidpump.

55; lnran automotive vehicle having an electric engine starting motorand electrical circuit means closeable for energizing said motor so asto start said engine: a pump connected to be driven by said electricmotor; tube means respectively connected at one end to the inlet anddischarge of the pump; an adjustable control device to which theopposite ends of said tube means are connected; said control devicebeing adjustable between a normal intermediate position and two extremepositions; fluid connections between said control device and said fluidmotor for operating the latter in one direction or the other uponadjustment of said control device to one or the other of said extremepositions; said control device, in said intermediate position,establishing a bypass connection for the free flow of fluid from and tosaid pump; and means for closing said electrical circuit means inresponse to the movement of said control device to one of said extremepositions.

6. In an automotive vehicle having an electrical engine starting motorand electrical circuit means closeable for energizing said motor so asto start said engine; a fluid motor for imparting vehicle membermovements; a pump connected to be driven by said starting motor; anadjustable control device moveable between normal and abnormalpositions; operative connections between said control device and saidpump and said control device and said fluid motor for operating thelatter in one direction or the other upon corresponding adjustment ofsaid control device to an abnormal position; said control de vice in itsnormal position establishing a bypass between the inlet and discharge ofthe pump whereby to circulate fluid freely to and from the pump duringoperation of said starting motor for engine starting purposes; and meansfor closing said electrical circuit means in response to the movement ofsaid control device from normal position to an abnormal position.

7. In an automotive vehicle having an electrical engine starting motorand electrical circuit means closeable for energizing said motor so asto start said engine; a reversible fluid motor for imparting vehiclemember movements, and having an inlet and an outlet, said fluid motorhaving a pair of fluid connections arranged so that pressure fluidselectively input to one or the other of said connections will drivesaid fluid motor in one or the other direction; a pump connected to bedriven by said staring motor; an adjustable control device having achamber, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a pair of other ports; fluidconduit means respectively connecting the inlet and outlet of said pumpwith the outlet and inlet ports of said control device; other fluidconduit means respectively connecting the pair fluid motor; a rotor insaid chamber adjustable between two extreme positions and having anintermediate position and having grooves therein registrable with saidports, said grooves being arranged to provide a bypass connection forsaid inlet and outlet ports when said rotor is in said intermediateposition and selectively to connect said inlet and outlet ports withsaid other ports upon rotation of said rotor to one or the other extremepositions; said electrical circuit means including switch means on saidcontrol devic arranged to be closed upon rotation of said rotor to oneof said extreme positions; and means for 15 I rotating said rotor.

JOHN B. PARSONS.

8 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,203,323 Gardner Oct. 31, 19161,711,565 Hatfield et a1 May 7, 1929 1,769,534 Nattrass July 1, 19301,975,278 Lebel Oct. 2, 1934 2,052,182 LeBleu Aug. 25, 1936 2,112,466Maloon Mar. 29, 1938 2,115,950 Gurries et al May 3, 1938 2,139,473Sessions Dec. 6, 1938 2,301,576 Parsons et al Nov. 10, 1942 2,311,864Parsons Feb. 23, 1943 Floraday June 13, 1950

